The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

one’s own self upon his wedded wife; 2nd, the
son begotten upon one’s wife by an accomplished
person from motives of kindness; 3rd, the son begotten
upon one’s wife by a person for pecuniary consideration;
4th, the son begotten upon the wife after the husband’s
death; 5th, the maiden-born son; 6th, the son born
of an unchaste wife; 7th, the son given; 8th, the
son bought for a consideration; 9th, the son self-given;
10th, the son received with a pregnant bride; 11th,
the brother’s son; and 12th, the son begotten
upon a wife of lower caste. On failure of offspring
of a prior class, the mother should desire to have
offspring of the next class. In times of distress,
men solicit offspring from accomplished younger brothers.
The self-born Manu hath said that men failing to have
legitimate offspring of their own may have offspring
begotten upon their wives by others, for sons confer
the highest religious merit. Therefore, O Kunti,
being destitute myself of the power of procreation,
I command thee to raise good offspring through some
person who is either equal or superior to me.
O Kunti, listen to the history of the daughter of Saradandayana
who was appointed by her lord to raise offspring.
That warrior-dame, when her monthly season arrived,
bathed duly and in the night went out and waited on
a spot where four roads met. She did not wait
long when a Brahmana crowned with ascetic success
came there. The daughter of Saradandayana solicited
him for offspring. After pouring libations of
clarified butter on the fire (in the performance of
the sacrifice known by the name of Punsavana) she
brought forth three sons that were mighty car-warriors
and of whom Durjaya was the eldest, begotten upon
her by that Brahmana. O thou of good fortune,
do thou follow that warrior-dame’s example at
my command, and speedily raise offspring out of the
seed of some Brahmana of high ascetic merit.’”

SECTION CXXI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’Thus addressed, Kunti
replied unto her heroic lord, king Pandu, that bull
amongst the Kurus, saying, ’O virtuous one, it
behoveth thee not to say so unto me. I am, O thou
lotus-eyed one, thy wedded wife, devoted to thee.
O, Bharata of mighty arms, thyself shalt, in righteousness,
beget upon me children endued with great energy.
Then I shall ascend to heaven with thee; O prince
of Kuru’s race, receive me in thy embrace for
begetting children. I shall not certainly, even
in imagination, accept any other man except thee in
my embraces. What other man is there in this
world superior to thee? O virtuous one, listen
to this Pauranic narrative that hath been, O thou
of large eyes, heard by me, and that I shall presently
narrate.